Vengeance of Sukesh: John Mason (Legend of John Mason)

by Barbara J Robertson

  “Then, where did you go? The guards said you left around three o’clock?” She asked.

  “I walked here and you weren’t home. So I went to the church,” he answered.

  She closed her door behind him. “I see. I’m sorry to think you were out partying, John. Do you want something to eat? You haven’t eaten all day, you know.”

  “I’d like to take a shower and lie down, if it’s okay with you, ma’am.” She had never seen the look now on his face.

  “Of course it is, John,” she said softly.

  Mason took off his uniform and showered, trying to wash away the day’s pain, humiliation, and anguish. He put on clean sweatpants and laid down. Later, Dr. Baines put a blanket over him and lay down next to him. They put their arms around each other and slept.

  Mason did not discover for quite some time his ordeal with Captain Hanson that day was secretly observed by a panel of advisors: the Chief Medical Consultant for the Space Forces; the Chief Psychiatrist for the Space Forces; the Commandant of the Space Marines; Admiral Worthington; and their genetics specialist, Dr. Rachel Baines.

  VIII

  Mason had today and tomorrow off, and Thursday as a travel day to Quantico for OCS. He felt emotionally drained from the Joint Chief’s session with Captain Hanson. He spent the morning at a high-end gentleman’s clothing shop, and the afternoon at Tiffany’s jewelers. Mason walked to Earth Command Central to pick up Dr. Baines and Victor, in the gentle Houston rain. He bought an umbrella to shield Dr. Baines from the rain, but did not use it himself. The rain helped wash away his emotional anxieties.

  He went to the men’s room in the lobby to towel dry his soaked hair and face, and shake off his raincoat, to look more presentable. Dr. Baines was approaching the day care door as he stood up from his chair to greet her. “Right on time, John. Excellent! And I see we have a beautiful sunny afternoon ahead of us,” she sarcastically remarked.

  “It’s a great day to me, Dr. Baines,” Mason said. “I haven’t seen rain in over ten years. The rain felt cleansing,” he added. He used his umbrella for Dr. Baines and Victor, and they all sped home in a shuttle cab.

  Dr. Baines took the next day off work to spend with Mason, but took Victor to day care anyway. After the tram brought them to her neighborhood station, they opted for a walk in the park. They strolled arm in arm, enjoying being outside in the sunshine with each other, and planning their future. They were both dressed in casual street clothes, a wonderful day without uniforms.

  “When you’re graduated from OCS, just plan on staying at my home. It’ll be your home, now. Our home, all right? I never want us to get separated again. I’m already having to see you off tomorrow for eight weeks. Will you be sure and put in a request for your mid-OCS break as soon as you can? We’ll go up to the cape. It’s perfect that time of year,” she said sweetly. She stopped walking and gave him a little kiss. “It’ll be lonely without you, John,” she quietly added.

  “I promise to call you as much as I can to stay in touch. I won’t say anything too personal; you know the vid comms are sometimes monitored. Just know that hearing your voice and seeing your face will mean everything to me,” Mason told her, taking her hand, as they resumed their stroll by the lake. She was silent for a while, and then spoke very seriously.

  “You know, John, sometimes they make it hard on a mustang officer candidate. Not everyone will want you to graduate. There may be some resentment and outright hostility directed at you because of your accomplishments and medals. You should be very careful. They’ll try their best to trip you up, to make you wash out. Unless ordered otherwise, I’d strongly recommend you travel and report in wearing casual street clothes,” she cautioned him.

  “I got a similar warning from Colonel Tyrone, ma’am. I’ll have to stay sharp, that’s for sure,” he responded. “Too much is riding on this.” He looked in her eyes, smiling. “Our future.”

  “It’ll be a very long eight weeks until I see you again. Then a weekend together, and another eight weeks, maybe even longer.” She held tightly to his arm.

  “Just focus on the prize, Dr. Baines,” Mason said. “Right after graduation, we’re taking our vacation in paradise. Just the two of us,” he promised.

  “You’re my prize, John,” she admitted. Her long-awaited prize.

  Later, after shopping and some dinner, Mason went to his guest room to pack for tomorrow’s journey. “This advisory says to only bring one change of clothing and necessary toiletries. No com tablets or any comm links, and no charge crystals. Do you have a safe here, ma’am?” She let Mason put his weapons belt and his charge crystal wallet in the safe. “When you come to visit me in eight weeks, please bring my wallet, would you? It’ll be bad enough being in an Officer Candidate’s uniform when I see you. I don’t want to be broke, too,” he laughed. She helped him stow away his uniforms and gear in the guestroom. He laid out his travel clothes, and packed another day’s change of clothing. Best to bring exactly what they said. They’ll probably inspect his luggage anyway, to check whether or not he complied with instructions. He packed another bag with his clothing for their weekend together on the cape, for her to bring along.

  The next morning on the transport platform, little Victor hugged Mason so hard he nearly cried. “I’ll see you in eight weeks, Victor. You take real good care of your Mother for me, and protect her,” Mason said. “I’ll call you when I can, okay?”

  Dr. Baines was trying to smile for him, but when he hugged her good bye, she started to cry. She kissed his cheek, and dried her tears. “Eight weeks, ma’am, only eight weeks. All my love to you; all my love, ma’am,” he said, as he boarded the transport, and took a seat next to the window. He placed his palm on the window and watched her, then the transport moved slowly out of the station. Someday, he prayed, she’d be his. Please, dear God, please. He was already hers, to do with as she pleased, and had been since the day they first met over ten years ago.

  Mason arrived in Quantico three hours later, checked into his hotel and called to let her know he’d arrived safely. He reported twenty minutes early for the OCS bus the next morning and began his eight week session.

  She gave him good advice: his Colonel told him to his face he would do everything possible to catch him screwing up. He was the oldest candidate in class. His sergeant belittled him in front of the fresh-faced college kids repeatedly, and used Mason as his favorite whipping-boy. Mason did not show any emotion and took it all in, sucking his pride inside, and never responded to their badgering. He helped his fellow candidates build the chest and upper body muscles they’d need to pass their final physical test; he showed them how to put a mirror shine on their buckles and boots; he openly shared his experience with them to help them get through school successfully.

  He applied for his three-day pass and it was approved one full month before the OCS break, and he notified Dr. Baines. She was elated, and made plans for her, Victor, and her parents to come pick him up. Dr. Baines had a surprise for Mason, too. She was promoted to Rear Admiral, now in charge of the entire research staff on Earth. It was more important than ever for Mason to be an officer.

  On Friday at 3p.m. when his three-day pass started, he met Admiral Baines at the front gate with Victor. “Admiral Baines! Congratulations, ma’am, you certainly deserve that star. I’m so proud of you, Admiral Baines!” Mason was almost crying for her; she was beaming. Victor jumped into Mason’s arms and stayed there, rubbing his clean-shaven face.

  “Where’s your beard, John Mason? Did you have to remove it?” The boy asked.

  “Yes, I had to shave it off. Now I look like I did when I reported to your Father, Victor,” Mason told him.

  They walked to the front gate to leave, but the guard said, “Sorry, Officer Candidate Mason, but your pass has been cancelled.”

  “What?” Admiral Baines said in disbelief.

  “Yes, Admiral, ma’am. We cannot let him pass, or leave this base.”

  “Who canceled this pass?” She demande
d.

  “The Colonel, Admiral, and Mason is to report to him now, double-time,” the guard added, reading his instructions from his comm tablet.

  Mason ran full speed to the Colonel’s office. There must be some mistake, he thought; this was approved over thirty days ago. Admiral Baines was really upset. Her parents were in the taxi outside the base, waiting for her and Victor to bring Mason. She walked as fast as she could, with Victor in tow, to the Colonel’s office. By the time she jogged up the three flights of stairs in her high heels to Colonel Harding’s office, she was fit to be tied. She stopped at his aide’s desk and asked to be seen.

  “Colonel Harding is in a meeting now, ma’am. If you’ll have a seat, I’ll tell him you’re here when he’s finished,” the young aide said to her.

  Admiral Baines heard the Colonel’s voice ripping Mason up one side and down the other.

  “Who the hell do you think you are, renting a shuttle for the weekend, Mason? Did you think I wouldn’t find out your plans, you son-of-a-bitch? Going to pick up girls, and disgrace that uniform, no doubt. Well, you’re not going anywhere now or in the future. You’re one step away from being washed out of OCS, and kicked down to your old enlisted rank. I have half a mind to kick you out right now and send your sorry ass to Mars Penal Colony for latrine duty!”

  Newly-promoted Admiral Baines heard enough. “Announce me now, Sergeant.”

  “But, ma’am,” the aide protested.

  “I said NOW!” The aide jumped up, opened Colonel Harding’s door, and announced her.

  “Admiral Baines to see you now, Colonel Harding.”

  She stomped in with Victor as the big-mouthed Colonel rose and saluted her. “To what do I owe the privilege of this visit, Admiral Baines?”

  She returned his salute very sharply, and demanded, “I’m here to know exactly why you’re detaining my shuttle pilot, Colonel Harding. Please explain why Officer Candidate John Mason is in your office and not in my taxi on our way to the airport.”

  He asked her to be seated, which she did, taking off her white gloves like a fighter. Mason was at attention, and little Victor ran up beside him, standing at attention next to him. “Officer Candidate Mason was granted a three-day pass beginning at fifteen hundred hours today, and that pass was approved and authorized by you over thirty days ago, is this not correct?”

  “Yes, it is, Admiral Baines, but I have since revoked his pass,” the Colonel explained.

  “For what reason? Did his pass request not specifically read he would be escorting a Baines’ family outing to Cape Cod?” She had him squarely in her sights. “And that he would be my shuttle pilot?”

  The Colonel pulled up the original request, “Yes, it does say that, Admiral. But it is not the usual request made by an Officer Candidate to pilot a shuttle.”

  “Your average Officer Candidate is not a licensed pilot, with over seventeen years’ experience in the Space Marines, the majority of that time as a highly-decorated Prime Marine, is that not so, Colonel Harding?” She retorted.

  “Yes, that’s correct, Admiral.”

  “I have known Officer Candidate John Mason for over ten years, since he was my late husband’s Prime Marine aboard the Hesperia, Colonel Harding. I can assure you there will be no girls picked up in my shuttle. Mason is to pilot my shuttle, containing my parents, myself, and my son to Cape Cod for a little holiday. We have come all this way from Earth Command Central in Houston at considerable expense for this trip, and I would very much appreciate my pilot being made available to me now.” She looked at him intensely.

  “Admiral Baines, I’m sure you are aware that it is not our policy to show favoritism to any of our Officer Candidates here in Quantico,” the Colonel stated.

  “Yes, I am, and none is expected. However, you must realize your decision has placed an undue hardship on me and my family. Officer Candidate Mason was recommended to OCS career path by your Commandant himself, as well as Admiral Worthington. My late husband and I both further endorsed Officer Candidate Mason, and if there is any reason whatsoever he has not conducted himself as an excellent Officer Candidate, I demand to know about it right now.” She stared him down.

  Harding offered, “Officer Candidate Mason has performed admirably, and is at the top of his classes, Admiral.”

  “Does he have any substantive complaint against his character?” She asked pointedly.

  “No, Admiral. He does not.”

  She fired, “Has he been involved in any questionable activities on or off base?”

  “No, Admiral,” he sighed.

  “Then what is your reasoning to deny him his three-day pass, especially when he is to be my pilot, and escort for myself and my son?” She had him.

  “None that I can see now, Admiral Baines. I was not fully aware of the situation. I’ll be happy to reissue him his three-day pass. One moment please.” The Colonel begrudgingly took out his irradiating light, programmed it, and stood.

  “Officer Candidate Mason, step forward and hold out your left arm.” Mason did as ordered. The Colonel pushed up his sleeve, and burned a pass onto Mason’s arm. “I have given him a four-day pass in case you encounter any bad weather, Admiral Baines. The late summer can be unpredictable on the cape, ma’am.”

  “Thank you, Colonel Harding,” she said. “I appreciate your understanding and courtesy in this matter,” she said less accusingly. “It is very difficult to find the proper male role models for my son. You see how the boy emulates Mason,” she said. “I will be certain to inform Admiral Worthington of Officer Candidate Mason’s progress under your expert tutelage when we meet for lunch next Wednesday, Colonel Harding.”

  “Thank you, Admiral Baines. That is most appreciated,” he replied.

  Victor spoke just then. “May this cadet ask you a question, Colonel, sir?”

  Colonel Harding looked at Victor. “Yes, go ahead, son.”

  “Will John Mason be permitted to wear his medals again after he graduates, sir?”

  “Why do you ask, Cadet Baines?”

  “Because one of his Bronze Stars is for saving the lives of my Father and Mother, sir.” Victor waited for his answer.

  “Yes, he will be permitted to wear his medals after his graduation, Cadet Baines.” The Colonel looked tired suddenly, and defeated.

  “I think it is only fair to advise you Admiral Worthington and the Commandant will be in attendance when Officer Candidate Mason graduates, as will I, Colonel Harding,” the Admiral said, standing.

  “Thank you for the heads up, Admiral Baines. Officer Candidate Mason, you are to immediately escort Admiral Baines and her son to the front gate. I expect you to safely shuttle her family to Cape Cod, and conduct yourself properly. Is that understood, Officer Candidate Mason?” The colonel ordered, standing.

  “Sir, yes, sir!” Mason replied, saluting.

  “Very well, with your permission, Admiral Baines; you are dismissed, Officer Candidate Mason.” He saluted her, and watched them quickly march out of his office.

  “Cancel the rest of my appointments this afternoon,” the Colonel ordered, leaving his office in defeat. His favorite whipping boy possessed an advocate higher ranked and more formidable than he anticipated. And much better connected.

  “Yes, sir,” the sergeant said, stifling a smile. She’d heard every word, and was happy the Colonel had his come-uppance. He picked on Mason since day one, and never showed the slightest bit of respect for the Prime Marine, until today.

  Mason picked up Victor to hurry their pace towards the front gate with Admiral Baines. He was allowed to leave with her; she took him to her taxi and introduced Mason to her parents, David and Caitlin Cohen. They sped off to the airport.

  “I wonder how long it will take Colonel Harding to get that size 7 ½ high heel out of his rear end, ma’am?” Mason asked her, smiling broadly.

  “About eight weeks, I’d say,” she responded.

  They arrived at the airport, transferred their bags, and waited for Mason to rent thei
r shuttle and file his flight plan. Soon they were off, heading for Cape Cod. The afternoon was beautiful and sunny, and the flight was enjoyable. Mason flew them over the ocean’s edge as they came to the cape, and they were thrilled. He sat down on the landing pad adjacent to their hotel, and shut down. A porter-bot came out and took the bags to check in to their rooms. Mason locked down the craft and joined everyone in the lobby. They were taken to their rooms; the Admiral made sure Mason’s room was adjacent to hers, with adjoining doors.

  “Momma, will you and Daddy take Victor? Go ahead and order dinner. I need to change,” she asked.

  Admiral Baines asked Mason to help her open the adjoining doors, for more room to share between their rooms. “John? Would you help me? I need to take this uniform off,” she asked. She was holding a package in one hand and Victor’s backpack in the other.

  “Of course, Admiral Baines. I’ll be happy to help,” he said. Mason walked up to her and began unbuttoning her uniform jacket, instead of taking her package and backpack. He watched her give him that saucy little smile of hers as he undid the last button, then take the backpack, and remove one arm from the jacket. He took her package, and finished removing her jacket. After folding her jacket, he asked, “Does the Admiral wish me to continue to assist?”

  “Yes,” she said softly. Mason unbuttoned her blouse slowly, watching her eyes. He placed his hands inside her blouse at her waist, barely touching her skin, teasing her, as she gasped, smiling at him. Pulling her blouse out from her skirt at the back and front, he moved his hands up her sides so she could pull her arms out of the sleeves and removed her blouse.

  Mason ran his fingers along her skirt’s waistband lightly, then unbuttoned and unzipped it. He used the flat of his hands inside her skirt and half-slip to slowly push them down off her hips. He knelt slowly, pushing her skirt and slip down, his hands caressing her hips, thighs and legs. He kissed her stomach as he knelt.

  Mason took off her high heels and pulled off her skirt. “Begging the Admiral’s pardon, but I don’t think these garters are regulation, ma’am,” he said, enjoying her frilly white garters.